Solar Cells Info

Lexington, Mass.February 5, 2009
Source: 1366 Technologies press release
http://www.1366tech.com/v1/

1366 Technologies, an MIT spin-off focused on engineering and manufacturing advanced silicon solar cells, today announced the company has been awarded a cost-shared, 18-month subcontract with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) for the “Self-Aligned Cell: Scaling up manufacture of a cost effective cell architecture for multi-crystalline silicon photovoltaics” Project. The total potential funding from the DOE under the Solar America Initiative (SAI) is up to $3.0 million for the project. (more…)

One-acre, 1,500 solar panel array at Pioneer Hi-Bred Waimea Research Center in Kauai, Hawaii is DuPont’s largest solar installation to date
Marlboro, Ma, February 04, 2009
Source: Evergreen Solar Inc, press release
http://www.evergreensolar.com/app/en/company/press/pressreleases/item/705

Evergreen Solar, Inc. (Nasdaq: ESLR), a manufacturer of STRING RIBBON™ solar power products with its proprietary, low-cost silicon wafer manufacturing technology, announced today that a new 250 kilowatt solar energy power plant using its solar panels is now operational at DuPont’s Pioneer Hi-Bred Waimea Research Center in Kauai, Hawaii. The solar installation is DuPont’s largest and will supply 85 percent of the overall energy for the Research Center. (more…)

Copper Indium Gallium Diselenide (CIGS) solar cells pushed the market as manufacturers increased production
New Tripoli, USA, February 06, 2009
Source: CIOL.com
http://www.ciol.com/Semicon/Solar/PV/News-Reports/
Nanomaterials-for-solar-cells-grew-47-pc-in-2008/6209115650/0/

Despite a sluggish forecast for the overall high-tech industry in 2009, nanomaterials for solar cells grew 47 percent in 2008 and is projected to grow another 44 percent in 2009, according to a report: Market Outlook for Nanomaterials for Electronics Applications: Semiconductors, Solar, Displays. Sensors, RFID, Lighting, recently published by The Information Network. (more…)

Tokyo, Jan 23, 2009, AFP/Google
http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/
ALeqM5jt9WDoiC4m5dFViatAcn7z5zntkA

Japan’s Sanyo Electric Co. and Nippon Oil Corp. said Friday they would collaborate to produce thin-film solar cells for large-scale power generation.  The 50-50 joint venture will spend roughly 20 billion yen (226 million dollars) to build a factory in Japan that can annually produce enough solar cells to produce electricity worth 80 megawatts. The venture should have capacity of one gigawatt by March 2016 and two gigawatts by March 2021, when the companies estimate the solar cell market will be worth 10 trillion yen. (more…)

Source: The Armidale, Jan 21, 2009
http://armidale.yourguide.com.au/news/local/news/general/sustainable-living-group-in-push-for-solar-rewards/1414837.aspx?storypage=0

THE LOCAL group Sustainable Living Armidale (SLA) has made a submission to the NSW Government, which is looking at how it might regulate and reward the production of solar power collected on house roofs.  SLA is responding to the call by the Government’s Task Force on the introduction of a feed-in tariff on renewable energy.  With a feed-in tariff, a household with solar panels and connected to the national electricity grid, will receive a guaranteed payment for the greenhouse gases saved by their production of energy. (more…)

By Chris Morrison, January 22nd, 2009
Source:BNET.com
http://industry.bnet.com/energy/1000470/what-the-masdar-deal-means-for-suntech/

Chinese solar panel maker Suntech received a reputation boost this week with the announcement that it would join thin-film solar firm First Solar in providing half of the first 10 megawatts of power for Masdar City, a zero-carbon community under development in Abu Dhabi.  Although some reports have suggested that Masdar has just “broken ground” on the 10MW plant, having seen it several days ago I can attest that the work is nearly complete. Workers for installer Enviromena Power Systems are currently putting up First Solar’s panels; the Suntech portion looks complete. The builders say it’s at 70 percent. (more…)

Colorado’s BrightPhase Energy says it can dramatically lower the total cost of solar power by exploiting photovoltaics, solar thermal and natural light.  The Photensity contains silicon solar cells rated at about an 18 percent efficiency that convert sunlight into electric power.
by: Michael Kanellos, January 19, 2009
Source: GreenTechMedia.com
http://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/cheaper-than-first-solar-5539.html

It’s the three-in-one solar system.  BrightPhase Energy has cross-bred a skylight with a venetian blind and a lot of solar technology to come up with what could turn out to be a highly efficient energy system for homes or low-slung commercial buildings.  Third, because the photovoltaic cells are mounted on separated strips that resemble the slats in venetian blinds, the Photensity also lets light into the building, reducing the need for internal lights. (more…)

California manufacturer of photovoltaic systems for commercial rooftops strengthens European presence
Fremont, CA, and Munich, Germany, January 19, 2009
Source: Solyndra Inc, press release
http://www.solyndra.com/News/Press-Release-011909

Solyndra, Inc. announced the opening of the company’s European headquarters near Munich in Holzkirchen, Germany in response to the high demand in Europe for their innovative photovoltaic (PV) systems which provide breakthrough solar electricity performance for commercial rooftops. As Managing Director and Vice President for Europe, Middle East and Africa Sales of Solyndra GmbH, Clemens Jargon will be responsible for overseeing the company’s sales and service operations throughout European countries with active PV markets such as Germany, Spain, Italy, Greece, and France. (more…)

by Josie Garthwaite, 21 Jan 2009
Source: Earth2Tech.com
http://earth2tech.com/2009/01/21/
intel-tests-out-sharp-pv-for-solar-powered-data-center/

Chip giant Intel Corp. unveiled a 10-kilowatt solar installation near its New Mexico manufacturing plant this weekend, launching its latest foray into clean energy for power-hungry data centers. While energy generated by the array’s 64 Sharp solar panels will feed into the local electricity grid and tractor-trailer-sized test racks of computers — rather than directly powering the roughly 5,000 servers at Intel’s facility — the company said it hopes solar can eventually boost the data center’s power supply during times of peak demand. (more…)

Source: WaterSupply.com, Jan 16, 2009
http://www.watersupply.com/articles/DOE_Awards_0128382-160109.html

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced today that it has made three new technical assistance awards under the Solar America Showcases project, which is run by the Solar Energy Technologies Program. These awards provide technical assistance from solar energy experts to high-visibility, large-scale solar installations. (more…)